Apoptosis processes

Bcl-2 B cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) is a family of proteins that regulate apoptosis (programmed cell death). Apoptosis is a necessary process whereby aged or damaged cells are replaced by new cells. Dysfunction of the apoptosis process results in disease inhibition of apoptosis results in cancer, autoimmune disorder, and viral infection, whereas increased apoptosis gives rise to neurodegenerative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes, ischemic injury, and toxin-induced liver disease. 

Three lipids A have been more intensively studied in animal models, all of them having indirect effects, mediated in vivo by the immune system. For two of them, DT-5461 and ONO-4007, TNF-a is an important mediator acting at the vascular level that provokes tumor necrosis. For the third one, OM-174, the treatment induces the accumulation of IFN-y and EL-1 P in tumors, which activate NOS II transcription in tumor cells that produce autotoxic NO, which then provokes the apoptosis of tumor cells. At the same time this treatment inhibits the production of TGF-pi by tumor cells which reduces the TGF-pi induced immunosuppression and enhances NO production. Acquired immune response, probably completes the tumor regression started by the apoptosis process and, most probably induces specific memory. 

Tamaki, E., Sato, K., Tokeshi, M., Sato, K., Aihara, M., Kitamori, T., Single-cell analysis by a scanning thermal lens microscope with a microchip direct monitoring of cytochrome c distribution during apoptosis process. Anal. Chem. 2002, 74, 1560-1564. 

The failure of the apoptosis process has been reported as a possible cause of autism in some individuals [63, 64], Chemical exposure may shift the tightly regulated balance of neurotrophic signals regulating apoptosis and cause an increase or decrease in the cell numbers of a region of the nervous system. However, the effect of environmental substances on apoptosis in the developing brain has not been studied to a great extent. 

Whether apoptosis processes initiate or inhibit Cr(VI) induced carcinogenesis has been raised as a matter of debate by Patierno and co-workers (181, 338). Prevention of cell death by CsA or any other mitochondrial permeability... 

A second group of apoptosis markers that connect to activation of neuron apoptosis are cellular events that mediate mitochondrial release of the pro-apoptotic proteins. Permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane (MOMP) is central to the apoptosis process and it is likely that we are close to an understanding of the specific mechanisms involved. Basically, a plethora of pro-apoptotic stimuh set into play increased expression, protein-protein interactions, and subcellular relocahza-tions of members of Bcl-2 family of proteins (Gross et al, 1999 Ryter et al, 2007). The founder of this group of proteins is the Bcl-2 oncogene, with the group... 

Propidium iodide P4170 Sigma X 530 nm X 625 nm Fluorescent stain for nucleic acids. Cell membrane integrity excludes propidium iodide from staining viable and apoptotic cells. Propidium iodide may be used in flow cytometry to evaluate cell viability when used with otho" dyes that stain viable cells or cells that are early in the apoptosis process. Propidium iodide is useful for staining dead cells. 

Cytochrome c is a component of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain. The release of c)ftochrome c from mitochondria initiates caspase activation during apoptosis. A microchip-based system has been developed for direct monitoring of the cytochrome cdistribution during the apoptosis process. 

The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol is thought to be a key event for signal transduction in the apoptotic process. It has been suggested that it induces a series of biochemical reactions that result in caspase activation and subsequent cell death. Tamaki et al. [12] have developed a microchip-based system for direct monitoring of cytochrome c distribution during the apoptosis process. This system incorporated microscale cell culture, chemical stimulation, and a scanning-thermal-... 

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